Being multi-talented and multi-passionate…it sounds like your life would know no problems if this were you, right?

In reality, some multi-talented people (what I call “Renaissance Personalities”) feel awkward about telling their friends and family that their “problem” of not feeling fulfilled in their current career originates in being multi-talented. After all…they reason, if you’re good at so many different things, why not just pick one and stick with it?

Other Renaissance Personalities feel selfish because it seems such a nice problem to have; “too many” talents.

Others feel like they need to see a mental health specialist. Or are told/forced by their loved ones to see someone about their “issue.”

And when you think career or aptitude tests will bring you solace – think again. I have yet to find the RP who has found the magic answer in a test. For obvious reasons; you’re good at – and interested in – highly diverse fields.

So here are the most common mistakes I see “newly discovered” RPs make, and of course I’ll tell you how to avoid these mistakes…

Still focusing on career direction, believing there is one magic solution that fits your personality.

I can’t blame you – that’s what we’ve been taught to do throughout high school and in society. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It starts there.

Even though there are a few lucky bastards that get to combine multiple passions into a so-called “umbrella career,” it doesn’t mean you’re there.

They say that even non-RPs change careers on average 7 times throughout their lives. For RPs, career focus is a work in progress that will never end.

An RP who emailed me last week is on to her 16th career!

Here’s how to avoid the mistake of focusing on a single solution…

You will have to get used to the idea – better yet; get comfortable with it – that you’ll have a lot of changes in your professional life. And you won’t be able to figure it all out from today until retirement.

For most RPs, the real question of what to do next is a combination question:

What are the different things I want to do?

Which of these do I want to do for money? (And which do I keep as a hobby?)

In which order am I going to pursue the things I want to do?

Answers to these questions will vary widely, even among RPs.

You see, there are vast differences among RPs.

This brings us to another major mistake I see RPs make: Not recognizing that there are many different types of RPs, each with their own preferences.

Here’s how to avoid this mistake…

Read up on the many different types of RPs in my free report (see below) and in Barbara Sher’s “Refuse to Choose.”

For example; some RPs like to skim the surface of a topic and then move on, not staying in any particular field any longer than necessary.

Yet others like to specialize – contradictory as it may sound – and move on to the next thing after maybe 10 years. What makes them an RP is that they tend to move on to something completely different. Also, they’re not motivated by money or status. Once they reach success, they feel “done.” And thus move on. The challenge has been mastered.

Some RPs make the conscious decision to engage in all their passions in their free time. Not commercializing your passions can be a big advantage too. These RPs pick a rather simple, steady job that doesn’t cause them stress or require long hours. This way, they have enough time, energy, and money to enjoy their true passions in their own time, on their own terms.

A more esoteric “mistake” I see RPs make is not fully accepting and embracing their trait. This is such an important aspect that I spend a lot of time on it in my Renaissance program.

Especially after believing for such a long time that something is awry with you, it’s hard to let the truth sink in, namely that you’re simply a multi-talented, multi-passionate person.

Here’s how to avoid this mistake…

Keep at it. Reread the Barbara Sher and Margaret Lobenstine books. Keep reading my newsletter and blog, and others on the topic. Try to connect with other RPs. Talk about it with supportive people.

The more you keep the whole concept front of mind, the more it will feel normal to you and the more ingrained it will become that you too are very normal!

It just takes some time and practice.

Bottom line: have patience with yourself! No one said it’s easy to create a Renaissance life but the important part is that it CAN be done! And it can be exciting and fulfilling, as long as you’re willing to accept the ongoing nature of it. This is why it’s important to have support around you. Hopefully from your loved ones to begin with and from a good coach at times to get you going in the right direction and gain momentum.

Still in progress, I’m finally coming to understand that I am a true RP! Thanks for the insight. When my creative side isn’t engaged, I bog down. I other words, I really love creating the system, please don’t ask me to maintain it.